Declaring War on Tar Sands on Both Sides of an Artificial Border

On June 28, 2014, Owe Aku (Bring Back the Way), a Lakota (Sioux) organization from the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation dedicated to the preservation of SacredWater, stopping the Keystone XL Pipeline and all threats to Mother Earth, demonstrated support for the 5th and final Tar Sands Healing Walk. Although Owe Aku members could not travel to Ft. McMurray in Canada because of border issues created by fat taker (the literal translation from the Lakota of the word for greedy, selfish people and corporations), Owe Aku was on the Lakota sacred mountain Matopaha (Bear Butte). A camp was set up for four days and the people climbed to the top of the mountain while relatives and allies walked the toxic land created by fat taker in Alberta. This consensus statement was delivered to the people gathered at Tar Sands:

“Greetings Relatives and Allies from the Lakota People of Moccasins on the Ground, Owe Aku. We are with you in this spiritual work to protect sacred water. We send our voice in solidarity while we stand on our sacred mountain Mato Paha. We pray with you for the healing of Mother Earth and protection of sacred water, and for the spirits to turn the mind of fat taker. Together through prayer and nonviolent direct action we work to shut down the tarsands without bloodshed. On our sacred mountain we make offerings and send our voice in loving memory of all the Red Nations who have been killed by tarsands genocide. We urge solidarity by land defenders and sacred water protectors everywhere so that our future generations may collectively live on, free from the environmental slaughter inflicted by Fat Taker Corporations. As you walk the tarsands healing walk, our Warrior Society puts our Moccasins on the Ground, we stand with you, we pray with you, we fight beside you. SHUT DOWN TARSANDS. NO PIPELINE. NO TANKERS. NO COMPROMISE. Lila wopila heca.”

Colorado was ground zero in the hydraulic fracturing debate on Tuesday, as four local municipalities voted on moratoriums or outright bans. In Boulder, 76 percent of voters favored extending a moratorium already in place. In Fort Collins, 55 percent supported a freeze on the practice. In Lafayette, 58 percent voted for a charter amendment that…Read More